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Enforcement and Equality before the Law
- Royal justices enforced laws across the country, aiming for equal treatment of free men regardless of social standing.
- Free men, those not performing servile work, were a significant portion of the population but their exact number is debated.
Magna Carta as a Peace Treaty
- Magna Carta resulted from negotiations at Runnymede, a traditional place of peacemaking, acting as a peace treaty between King John and the barons.
- John's military defeats and perceived loss of God's favor weakened his position.
Key Players at Runnymede
- Around 2,000 people, including barons with their retinues, were present at Runnymede, mirroring the size of King John's mercenary army.
- Key players included Archbishop Stephen Langton as a mediator, and barons like Eustace de Vesci and Nicholas de Stuteville.